TRENITALIA began operating direct train services from Turin Porta Susa to Turin Airport and the Lanzo Valley to the north of the city on January 20 following the successful upgrade of the 43km Turin - Germagnano - Ceres railway.
Trenitalia has taken over operation of the line from Turin Transport Group (GTT). A significant element of the upgrade was the construction of a new 2.7km underground section in Turin, diverting east from the existing line at Corso Grosetto to Rebaudengo Fossata from where trains join the cross-city Passante tunnels, which carry Turin - Milan main line trains and serve Turin’s Lingotto and Porta Susa stations.
A new station was built at Turin Grosseto, replacing Madonna di Campagna, while the previous Turin Dora terminus station for the Turin - Ceres line has been closed.
Other upgrades to the line included the installation of SCMT train control and the elimination of several level crossings. Bridges and viaducts have been adapted so they are compliant with European standards, Italian Rail Network (RFI) says.
Stations at Turin Airport, Venaria Reale Rigola Stadio, and Turin Grosseto have been made accessible to all passengers.
Regional train services on Line 4 between Alba and Turin and Line 7 from Fossano to Turin have been extended over the newly adapted line, providing a 30-minute interval service between the city, the airport and Lanzo Valley. Services between Turin and the Lanzo Valley have been operated by bus while the upgrades took place over the past two years.
The new service was inaugurated during a ceremony held on January 20. Among the attendees was Mr Matteo Salvini, Italian minister of infrastructure and transport, Mr Paolo Zangrillo, minister of public administration, Mr Gianpiero Strisciuglio, CEO of RFI, and Mr Luigi Corradi, CEO of Trenitalia.
